Sri Lanka Scimitar-Babbler

A gregarious mostly dark-gray helmetshrike. Note the piercing orange eye, blue eye wattles, chestnut forehead patch, red legs, and orange bill. Small to medium-sized flocks inhabit coastal forest and lush woodland. Often in mixed flocks, most often with Retz’s Helmetshrike. Vocalizations include tearing notes, croaks, and bill snaps. Similar to Retz’s Helmetshrike, but easily separated by the chestnut forehead and blue rather than red eye wattles.

Medium-sized sluggish flycatcher of riverine and disturbed habitats. Key marks are entirely cinnamon plumage and large-headed, plain-faced appearance; bill seems heavy and is entirely black. Sits still, peering about, before sallying to foliage for insects. Inhabits mid-story and understory, often at forest edge. Found in forest along rivers and oxbow lakes, in abandoned plantations, and at savanna edges, usually near water. Similar to Dull-capped Attila but has dark eyes and different voice. Most common calls are various mournful whistles.

Spectacular, broad-winged, short-tailed hawk of lowland tropical forest. Usually seen soaring in mid-late morning or perched quietly in the forest canopy. Basically unmistakable, but beware of rare albino forms of other hawks. Plumage is white overall with black wingtips and a black tail band. Immature has more black on wings, as do adults of populations in southern Central America. Note dark eyes and pale grayish base to the bill (versus yellow on most hawks).